Update From Administrator – September 23, 2020
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
We are happy to report that we remain COVID free!
We will continue testing and reporting at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and DPH.
I want to reiterate that this pandemic is still active and while Marlborough Hills remains COVID free, the Commonwealth continues to report new cases of COVID and as we see in the news, some States continue to surge with new cases. This serves as a reminder that we must all remain vigilant in following all guidelines, recommendations, and best practices to stay safe and fight this pandemic.
Although we are following social distance guidelines, handwashing protocols, hygiene recommendations, and wearing masks in our center – it is still STRONGLY encouraged that all staff and residents receive an annual Influenza Vaccine. We have received our shipment of vaccine, please consider completing a consent form to ensure your loved one receives their vaccine.
As you may have heard on the news, nursing homes will begin receiving “Rapid” COVID testing machines from the federal government over the coming weeks. As soon as we receive the machines, have conducted training on them, and have the necessary supplies to conduct the tests – we look forward to putting them to use! More information will follow on this as it becomes available.
We have received the “Point of Care Testing Device” from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that is designed to enable us to conduct COVID-19 Antigen testing within the facility with rapid results. We are working on getting our clinicians certified in the use of this device and will communicate with you once we begin using it.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) also announced that are resuming routine surveys. As always, we will continue to communicate to you when a State or Federal agency has conducted a survey here.
Food is now allowed to be dropped off by families for their loved one’s enjoyment and take out delivery has also been authorized. The receptionist will meet the individual delivering the food at the front entrance and will have it delivered to the resident by our staff.
Our Beauty Salon is open for all salon services under strict guidelines to unsure safety.
Each nursing unit has tablets assigned for resident use such as virtual visits, games, etc. and many of our residents are enjoying learning how to use this technology and having the world at their fingertips.
We have fresh air time where residents can get some much needed sunshine while supervised to ensure social distancing.
Our outdoor social distancing activities programming continues to expand and evolve.
Every weekday, I and my administrative team round a different nursing unit and meet with our residents to let them know we’re here for them and give them an opportunity to voice any questions or concerns they may have directly to us. We also use this time during rounds to assess our residents, our environment, and ask our residents specific questions such as satisfaction with meals, preferences, activities being provided, interaction and response from staff, proper operation of all equipment in room and more!
And we saved the best news saved for last… We just received state guidance for indoor visitation! Just as with our outdoor visits there are a number of Federal and State guidelines we need to follow.
Guidelines
–All visits must be scheduled in advance and will take place in a designated area.
–The visitor must have their temperature taken and answer simple questions prior to the resident coming out for the visit.
–The resident and their visitor(s) must always wear a facial mask.
–Social distancing must be maintained throughout the entire visit. This means that the resident and their visitor(s) must always be at least six (6) feet apart.
–No items may be transferred between visitor(s), residents.
–The visits will be scheduled for thirty (30) minutes.
–The maximum number of visitors allowed at one time is two (2).
–A facility staff member will be required to remain with the resident and visitor(s) at all times
We offer indoor and outdoor supervised social distancing visits 5 times a week. The days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We will offer after hour’s visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will continue with normal business hours on Saturdays.
The days/hours available are:
Tue 10:00am to 7:00-7:30pm
Wed 10:00am to 2:00-2:30pm
Thu 10:00am to 7:00-7:30pm
Fri 10:00am to 2:00-2:30pm
Sat 10:00am to 2:00pm-2:30pm
Please continue to use our special email address Info@marlboroughhillsrhcc.com to request virtual visits, outdoor social distancing visits, or ask questions.
Thank you,
Ronald Doty